Elevating mechanism

ABSTRACT

An elevating mechanism made up of a frame. A collecting device is rotatably supported at the lower part of the frame and three chains made up of links are wound around the collector in spaced relation to each other. The center chain is wound in the opposite direction from the other chains and the links are swingably connected together and fixed to move in a definite path. All three chains are connected at their distal ends to the bottom of a platform so that when the chains are unrolled from the collector, they push the platform up in a manner of an elevating mechanism. All three chains are connected at their proximal end to the platelike member of a collecting device.

United States Patent 1 Dyczynski ELEVATING MECHANISM [52] U.S. C]. 187/17, 187/19 [51] Int. Cl. 1366b 11/04 [58] Field of Search 187/2, 6, 17, 19;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,012,635 12/1961 Blain 187/19 1 Dec. 4, 1973 Primary Examiner-Richard E. Aegerter Assistant Examiner-Joseph E. Valenza Attorney-Charles L. Lovercheck [57] ABSTRACT An elevating mechanism made up of a frame. A collecting device is rotatably supported at the lower part of the frame and three chains made up of links are wound around the collector in spaced relation to each other. The center chain is wound in the opposite direction from the other chains and the links are swingably connected together and fixed to move in a definite path. All three chains are connected at their distal ends to the bottom of a platform so that when the chains are unrolled from the collector, they push the platform up in a manner of an elevating mechanism. All three chains are connected at their proximal end to the platelike member of a collecting device.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC 4 I975 SHEET 2 OF 2 FIQG ELEVATING MECHANISM OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved elevating mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved lifting mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide an elevating mechanism that is simple in construction, economical and compact to use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement ot parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Now with more particular reference tothedrawings,

the elevating mechanism has a frame 14made up of four vertical frame members indicated at 11, 12 and 13 which are held rigidly in spaced relationshipofthe legs of the table by four upper horizontal frame members indicated at 16 and 23 and four lower horizontal frame members indicated at 15.Two spaced vertical members are rigidly attached to an upper horizontal frame member 23 at one side of the frame." Two spaced horizontal members 17 are supported on the spaced vertical members 20. Two additional spaced vertical members 19 are rigidly attached to an upperhorizontal frame member 23 at the opposite side of the frame.

Two spaced horizontal members 18 aresupported on the spaced vertical members 20.Two spaced horizontal members 43 and Marc rigidly attached between the upper cross frame members 23.

Axle 28 is supported on pillow blocks 29 located on the upper horizontal frame members 16 and the spaced horizontal members 43 and Axle28supports and drives the guide wheel 25. Axle27 is supported on pillow blocks 45 located on the upper horizontal frame member 16 and the spaced horizontal members43 and 44. Axle 28 supports and drives the two guide wheels 26. The guide Wheels 25 and 26 have spaced fingers 36 which engage pivots 35 when the guide wheels are .rotated. The guide wheels 25 and 26 of the collecting mechanism are rotated in opposite directions by axles 27 and 28 which are powered bya auitableydrive 61 through an elementary gear arrangement indicated at 66.

Axle 24 is supported on pillow blocks '46 located on the two spaced horizontal members 1'8. Axle 24st ports guide rollers 37. Guide roller 37 directs the move ment of chains 31. Axle 47 is supported on pillow blocks 48 located on the two spaced horizontal members l7. Axle 47 supports guide rollers 50 and 51. Guide rollers 50 and 51 direct the movement of chains 30 and 32. Axle 49 is supported by bars 52 suspended from the spaced horizontal members 43 and 44. Axle 49 supports guide roller 21. Guide roller 21 directs the movement of chain 31. Axle 53 is supported by bars 54 suspended from the upper cross frame member 16. Axle 53 supports guide rollers 22.. Guide rollers 22 direct the movement of chains 30 and 32.

The column chains30, 31 and 32 are made up of col umn links 55. Thelinks 55 consist of two lengths of angle iron 56 and 57 positioned side by side as illustrated, and separated by a pivot piece 35. Angle irons 56 and 57 are swingably attached to pivot piece 35 by pivot pin 38. Two similar links of angle iron 58 and 59 are similarly positioned side by side, as illustrated, and separated by the pivot piece 35. Angle irons 58 and 59 are swingably attached to pivot piece 35 by pivot pin 39. The angle irons 56 and 58 being guided relative to one another by pivot piece 35 may rotate through an arc of approximately 90 on gear teeth 34. The angle irons 57 and 59, being guided relative to one another by pivot piece 35, may rotate through an arc of approximately 90 on gear teeth 34. Angle iron pairs, such as 56-57 and 58-59 all being rotatably adjoined by pivot pieces 35, may rotate through an arc of approximately 90 on gear teeth 34 such that one extreme of the arc occurs when the gear pieces 'lie in a straight line. The

guide wheels25 and 26 have spaced fingers 36 which enter the space 60 between the two angles56 and 57 which comprise the links55 and each of the fingers 36 "axial axle having outsideaxle 41 an inner axle64.

Axle 64 supports plate members 63 which are generally rectangular and held in place by bushings 65. The corners of plates 63, 72 and 73 catch in the spaces 60 of the angle iron pairs or links 55.. The plate members 63which collect chain 31 is supported on inner axle 64 of axles41 by bushings65. Similarly the plate members 72 and 73, 'which collect chains 30 and 32, are supported on central axles 64 by bushings65. The axles .41 and inner axles 64 are rotated in opposite directions by an elementary gear arrangement indicated at 67 which is driven by a suitable drive indicatedat 68. The platform 42 is supported by the three chains 30,

31 and 32. These chains are columns of linked angle iron pairs whichare held in a vertical column by the opposed relationship of the geared links 55 and guided by theguide rollers 37, 50,51, 22 and 21. To elevate the platform 42, the wheels 25 and 26 are rotated by a suitable drive indicated at 61 and 68. Axles 27 and 28 are.

rotated in opposite directions. This moves the links 55 upward and unwinds the links 55 from the collecting device40. Thus the chains 30, 31 and 32 move upward in a vertical path. When it is desired to lower the platform, the links are rewound on the collecting device and thus the chains 30, 31 and 32 move straight downward.

When the platform 42 is to be raised to excessive heights, it becomes desirable to suspend loose chain 69 shown in phantom from platform 42 to hold one or more frame members 70 shown in phantom at intervals along the extended chains 30, 31 and 32. The frame members 70 are frictionally connected to chains 30, 31 and 32 by guide rollers 71. The frame members 70 rigidly surround'the chains 30, 31 and 32 and lend stability to the elevating mechanism. The loose chain 69 allows the frame members 70 to stack themselves as the platform 42 is lowered.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. An elevating mechanism comprising a frame,

spaced chains of column links swingably connected together,

means for holding said column links together in rigid relation to each other when said links are extended whereby said links form a column,

a collecting device on said frame,

means to wind said chains of column links on said collecting device and move said column links downward,

and means to unwind said column links on said collecting device to project said column links upward, three chain members,

one said chain is wrapped around said collecting device at the center thereof in a first direction,

the other two chains are wrapped around said collecting device in a second direction,

and means is provided to rotate said collecting device to move said chains in a first direction and to move said chains in a second direction,

said collecting device comprises a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, and a third rotatable member,

said first, said second, and said third rotatable members being rotatably supported to rotate about a common axis,

and means to rotate said first and said second rotatable members in a first direction,

and means to rotate said third rotatable member in a second direction.

2. A pushing mechanism comprising a first column,

a second column,

and a third column,

said columns comprising column links swingably connected together,

a first collecting mechanism,

a second collecting mechanism,

said first column being adapted to be wrapped around said first collecting mechanism,

said second column being adapted to be wrapped around said second collecting mechanism, means for rotating said first collecting mechanism in a first direction,

means for rotating said second collecting mechanism in a second direction'while said first collecting mechanism is rotating in said first direction,

said columns being made up of column links swingably connected together,

and means holding said column links in rigid relation to each other when said columns are not wrapped around said collecting mechanisms whereby said columns project from said collecting mechanisms in parallel relation to each other.

3. The mechanism recited in claim 2 wherein said third column mechanism is provided on the opposite side of said second column mechanism from said first column mechanism,

said third column mechanism being supported on a third collecting mechanism,

and means for rotating said third collecting mechanism in unison with said first collecting mechanism.

4. The mechanism recited in claim 2 wherein said collecting mechanism is supported on a base and a support member is attached to said distal end of said columns.

5. The mechanism recited in claim 4 wherein said supporting member is a platform for an elevator.

6. The mechanism recited in claim 5 wherein said means for holding said links in n'gid relation to each other comprises gear teeth on each end of each said column link engaging the gear teeth on the said column link adjacent thereto,

said gear teeth on each said link engaging said gear teeth on said column link adjacent thereto when said links swing relative to each other.

7. The mechanism recited in claim 6 wherein guide rollers are provided on said base for guiding said columns in their upwardly movement.

8. The mechanism recited in claim 5 wherein a restraining frame is supported on said columns,

and means is provided on said frame to raise said restraining frame with said columns after said columns have raised a predetermined height.

9. The mechanism recited in claim 8 wherein said restraining means comprises a roller engaging the side of each said column remote from the other said column,

and a rigid member holding said rollers toward each other.

10. The mechanism recited in claim 7 wherein said column links are each made up of two rigid members,

pivot means holding said rigid members in spaced relation to each other,

and a drive means on said mechanism comprising wheels having fingers,

said fingers engaging said pivot means between said rigid member,

and means to rotate said wheels whereby said columns are extended. 

1. An elevating mechanism comprising a frame, spaced chains of column links swingably connected together, means for holding said column links together in rigid relation to each other when said links are extended whereby said links form a column, a collecting device on said frame, means to wind said chains of column links on said collecting device and move said column links downward, and means to unwind said column links on said collecting device to project said column links upward, three chain members, one said chain is wrapped around said collecting device at the center thereof in a first direction, the other two chains are wrapped around said collecting device in a second direction, and means is provided to rotate said collecting device to move said chains in a first direction and to move said chains in a second direction, said collecting device comprises a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, and a third rotatable member, said first, said second, and said third rotatable members being rotatably supported to rotate about a common axis, and means to rotate said first and said second rotatable members in a first direction, and means to rotate said third rotatable member in a second direction.
 2. A pushing mechanism comprising a first column, a second column, and a third column, said columns comprising column links swingably connected together, a first collecting mechanism, a second collecting mechanism, said first column being adapted to be wrapped around said first collecting mechanism, said second column being adapted to be wrapped around said second collecting mechanism, means for rotating said first collecting mechanism in a first direction, means for rotating said second collecting mechanism in a second direction while said first collecting mechanism is rotating in said first direction, said columns being made up of column links swingably connected together, and means holding said column links in rigid relation to each other when said columns are not wrapped around said collecting mechanisms whereby said columns project from said collecting mechanisms in parallel relation to each other.
 3. The mechanism recited in claim 2 wherein said third column mechanism is provided on the opposite side of said second column mechanism from said first column mechanism, said third column mechanism being supported on a third collecting mechanism, and means for rotating said third collecting mechanism in unison with said first collecting mechanism.
 4. The mechanism recited in claim 2 wherein said collecting mechanism is supported on a base and a support member is attached to said distal end of said columns.
 5. The mechanism recited in claim 4 wherein said supporting member is a platform for an elevator.
 6. The mechanism recited in claim 5 wherein said means for holding said links in rigid relation to each other comprises gear teeth on each end of each said column link engaging the gear teeth on the said column link adjacent thereto, said gear teeth on each said link engaging said gear teeth on said column link adjacent thereto when said links swing relative to each other.
 7. The mechanism reCited in claim 6 wherein guide rollers are provided on said base for guiding said columns in their upwardly movement.
 8. The mechanism recited in claim 5 wherein a restraining frame is supported on said columns, and means is provided on said frame to raise said restraining frame with said columns after said columns have raised a predetermined height.
 9. The mechanism recited in claim 8 wherein said restraining means comprises a roller engaging the side of each said column remote from the other said column, and a rigid member holding said rollers toward each other.
 10. The mechanism recited in claim 7 wherein said column links are each made up of two rigid members, pivot means holding said rigid members in spaced relation to each other, and a drive means on said mechanism comprising wheels having fingers, said fingers engaging said pivot means between said rigid member, and means to rotate said wheels whereby said columns are extended. 